Chapter 2: Chapter 2 - And again I found myself in an unusual world
The next morning, Asmodeus blinked in astonishment as he gazed at the owl perched on his table, bearing a letter in its talons. He mused to himself, "Not again. I've barely escaped from a war-torn Avatar World, and now I find myself in a world of noseless beings?"
"Alright, come here," he said to the owl, exchanging a peanut for the letter.
Unfolding the letter, adorned with a distinctive emblem of four animals, he read,
"Dear Mr. Asmodeus Noren Morningstar,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of required books and equipment. Classes commence on September 1st. We await your owl no later than July 31st."
After reading the letter, Asmodeus smiled bitterly and thought to himself, "Well, perhaps it's for the best. At least I won't have to conceal my fire magic."
Initially, Asmodeus was a sophomore at a university in an ordinary world. The most intriguing aspect of this world was that he was still named Asmodeus Morningstar, which some believers did not favor.
But one day, due to an unfortunate accident, he realized that he had been reborn into the world of the Avatar the last airbender.
Strangely, neither his name nor his appearance had changed when he was reborn...
His adoptive father named him Asmodeus Noren Morningstar, saying that was what his mother had requested before she passed away shortly after his birth.
Honestly, he was not reborn in the best period of that world. It was ten years before the reign of Fire Lord Ozai...
Why does he refer to his abilities as fire magic rather than firebending...
Because he could do many things that other firebenders could not.
While his abilities also relied on emotions, the method of using fire was different.
No one but himself could understand what he meant...
After transitioning to the world of the Avatar, Asmodeus seemed to have learned to control energies and elements as if by instinct.
Although in the Avatar world he was unable to use elements other than fire, he could control lightning, explosions, and fire.
Precisely control, not manipulate.
He felt that his power was not bending, which is why he referred to it as magic.
Today, his suspicions were confirmed.
In Asmodeus's understanding, all extraordinary powers share one root: the manipulation of energy. In essence, magic is not vastly different from advanced martial arts, such as body enhancement spells. The distinction between cultivators lies in the permanence of body tempering, while wizards of body enhancement schools strengthen themselves temporarily. In reality, both involve manipulating energy through will, movements, and intellect.
For Asmodeus, whether it's magic in the world of Harry Potter or firebending, it's essentially the same—manipulation of energy through will, movements, and emotions.
In the realm of wizards, magic requires emotions and wand movements, while firebenders use full-body movements and also rely on emotions when releasing energy. In fact, everything traces back to a common origin: manipulating energies.
In truth, thanks to his special abilities, Asmodeus considers himself more of a wizard than a Bender.
Since his bloodline is not the same as that of people in the Avatar world, at the very least, he believes that his mother, who named him, and never appeared before his eyes, was not a native of the Avatar world....
For example, the Fireblood lineage. This lineage was once bestowed upon them by the Lion-Turtle, thus inclined towards the fire element. Interestingly, the Lion-Turtle resembles wizards from the world of Harry Potter, possessing great wisdom and knowledge as the guardian of the most mysterious magic—the magic of energy that predates the invention of the other four magics. Therefore, the Lion-Turtle can manipulate any energy available in the world, resembling a traditional wizard in many ways.
In the world of Avatar, Asmodeus was a renowned prodigy, capable of wielding lightning magic. Of course, it's unknown whether this was due to his skills in firebending or his special abilities akin to magic.
The only thing that held Asmodeus back from becoming one of the generals in the Fire Nation army were two reasons.
Firstly, Asmodeus did not share the ambitions of the Fire Nation, or rather, he did not want to be a general in the service of someone who would rule the entire world. If he were the Fire Lord himself, perhaps his story would have unfolded differently...
Secondly, the return of the Avatar. Asmodeus knew that there wasn't much time left until the Avatar's return, maybe 20 or 25 years from his birth. And when he was 20, he already felt that he didn't know how to become stronger. It was as if he had hit a wall in his understanding of firebending and fire magic. Therefore, seeing no point in fighting for the Fire Lord and his futile ambitions, he chose to journey to the Earth Kingdom.
The problem arose when he arrived in the Earth Kingdom, where he had a conflict with a merchant, and in a fit of anger, he unleashed a couple of streams of fire... Because of this, he was mistaken for a spy and attacked by Earth Kingdom soldiers, many of them. In his attempts to disarm rather than harm his assailants, he got injured. As he fled, he stumbled into a peculiar rift in the mountains, transporting him into the world of Harry Potter.
His reflections on the past were interrupted by the owl, already disgruntled by the meager payment of just one nut for her services. Now, she had to wait for this peculiar red-eyed, bald monkey to respond to the letter.
"Oh, sorry about that," Asmodeus said with a smile and took a pen in hand. In his response, he expressed his delight at being accepted to the magical school but explained that he couldn't simply leave the orphanage without saying anything and was unsure how to proceed.
Handing the letter to the owl, he waited for a response. In the evening, he saw the familiar disgruntled owl again and opened the letter.
"Dear Asmodeus Morningstar, we are delighted that you have chosen to attend our school. On Thursday at 13:00, one of the professors will come to explain the situation to your guardians and accompany you for school shopping. Do not worry about funds, as the school has a special program to assist students."
As Thursday approached, Asmodeus contemplated, "Today is Monday, just three more days. I must prepare the caretaker, Anna, beforehand." Anna Berkman, the elderly lady who had looked after him at the orphanage for the past month, had treated him with kindness, and he didn't want the Hogwarts professor to catch her off guard.
The following morning, Asmodeus sought out Mrs. Berkman and began, "Miss Anna, I need to speak with you. When would be a good time?"
"What's on your mind, dear? I'm available now," replied the woman, her face adorned with a gentle smile that belied the marks of time. Though aged, the grace of her youth still shone through the wrinkles.
"Grandma Anna, could we have a private chat?"
"Certainly, my dear. Follow me."
After 15 minutes in a room adjacent to the kitchen, Asmodeus broached the topic, "So, I've been accepted to a magic school."
The old lady's smile widened, and she inquired,
"You mean to say you're a wizard?"
One might question the wisdom of revealing such information to a Muggle caretaker of only a month. However, according to Ministry of Magic regulations, it was imperative for teachers to inform the guardians of young wizards about the existence of the magical world.
Furthermore, Asmodeus believed that sharing his story would expedite the process and make it easier for future teachers.
"Yes," Asmodeus affirmed, aware of how incredulous it sounded. To dispel any doubts, he promptly showcased his abilities, conjuring flames with a few fluid motions. Initially dismissing it as child's play, Miss Berkman's disbelief turned to awe as she witnessed the dance of fire at the child's command.
"How... how did you do that?" she asked, her voice tinged with amazement.
"It's fire magic," Asmodeus explained.
"But don't you suffer from amnesia?" she queried, giving him a scrutinizing look.
"Yes, I do, but fire magic feels instinctual to me. It's as if I've known it since birth," Asmodeus replied.
'Haha, since birth,' he mused inwardly. 'If only you knew the decades of study behind it, it might feel instinctual to you too.' However, he kept this thought to himself.
"Alright, young man, you've convinced me. So, tell me more about this magic school?"
Asmodeus shared everything he could from the letter, being careful not to reveal too much. After all, a child with amnesia shouldn't know about the magical world, especially when he already looks suspicious due to his knowledge of using fire magic.
Miss Anna listened to all of this and asked, "Are you absolutely sure you want to go? You know you don't have any friends there, and you'll be alone in an unfamiliar world. At least here, we have our caregivers from the orphanage."
Asmodeus was touched by her kindness and concern, but he still replied, "Miss Anna, I think I can give Hogwarts a try. If I want to, I can leave at any time and come back to you. But I want to see what the magical world looks like."
"As you wish, little one. We'll be happy to welcome you back if you decide to return."
Asmodeus nodded and said nothing more.
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To better explain the protagonist's state and abilities, let's delve into his lineage. He possesses two bloodlines—one in firebending and the other... I won't name it, but I believe you've already guessed. In my world, firebending and the other elemental abilities stem from a special bloodline granted to humans by the lion turtle. In my narrative, mana/qi and all forms of energy that influence reality trace back to a common source: cosmic energy. It's simply that individuals have learned to wield it in diverse ways. Though for Asmodeus it's easier then for others, because of his second bloodline. This concept will be further elucidated in upcoming chapters. Therefore, the protagonist can harness magic.
Now, let's address any concerns. If you disagree with my approach, feel free to revisit the original book and enjoy it on your terms. No one is compelling you to read this rendition.